Tales By Chi

The elevator binged and they waited for a split second before its doors parted. A very fine girl stood before them, waiting to step into the elevator. Stanley beamed her a smile which she ignored and brushed past them into the elevator.
"Bitches," he muttered under his breath. "A whole lot of money will get you a flock of them, Money that we will be having very soon."
Stanley nodded absent mindedly as they walked down the hall to suite 107c, Jameson suit.

"Bitches, was that all you thought of Maria?" Williams asked all of a sudden and threw him off guard. Stanley shot him a look and let out a fake laugh.
"Of course not, I loved her really but like you always say, there are certain things that we are often forced to do and we get to have no choice. You do realized that I held her above any other girl, don't you?" he asked, placing his hand on the door knob.
"Yes I understand perfectly well," he nodded and Stanley turned the knob.

They walked into the tastily furnished suite and feasted on it with their eyes. The door led directly into the little but comfy sitting room. The television was on and Jameson sat on a couch backing backing the door. The day's dailies rested on his laps and he peeked at the pages through his spectacles.

Stanley took the lead and Williams dragged slowly behind until they stood before him, separated only by the glass table accommodating his eye glass case and a glass of wine. Jameson peeked at them over the rims of his spectacle and frowned.
"He is the one boss," Stanley announced and Williams smiled.
"I see, what's his name again?" Jameson asked, looking at Stanley.
"Williams," Williams answered and got a chilly look from him.
"You only talk when you are talked to young man," he cautioned icly and the smile froze on Williams face. He murmured his apologies and kept mute.
"He is Williams sir," Stanley repeated.
"I heard him the first time," he said and dropped the paper on the table.
"I have heard stories about you, how reliable and how cold you can be," he said to Williams. Williams nodded and kept looking at him, eyeball to eyeball.
"I would like to trust you but I need a good reason to. Just give me one reason I should trust someone that killed his parents and his siblings just to get to the top, how safe am I with you?" he asked, maintaining eye contact with him. He often believed he could tell the character of a man through the shadows in his eyes, but he saw nothing in Williams eyes. They were dark as hell. He waited for an answer to his questions, a few seconds dragged by and he only got a smile for an answer. He shifted on his seat and coughed lightly. Stanley shot Williams a look and swore under his breath.

"I would like you to be totally honest with me, how much would it take for you to put a hit on me, don't tell me you can't do it. Every man has his price so tell me how much?" he asked. Williams thought for a while and let out a sharp answer.

"Nothing, I'd do it for free," he replied. Jameson let out an uneasy smile and Stanley squeezed his face.
"You don't care for money, do you? All those things you did, the people you killed, your parents? You didn't do it for money?" he asked.
"No, I don't care for money. I only care to see you dead," he said and pulled his gun from his waist. Stanley reached for his piece but reached late. Williams put a bullet through his left thigh and another through his left hand. He fell with a scream and a thud.
He switched to a stung Jameson.
"Have you lost your mind? What do you think you are doing?" he asked, moving his hand stealthily to the gun on the side stool on his right, Williams didn't miss it. He shot him on the hand, once. He let out a shriek and held his shattered hand.

"You remember Taylor?" he asked and Jameson managed to nod through the stinging pain burning in his fresh.
"Then you must remember Kim too, she was his daughter. Got killed along with his father. Word has it that you were responsible and it's very personal to me. I loved her and she loved me," he said and caressed the trigger.
"You are pathetic boy. You did all these because of some bitch that her father would have tossed your poor ass over a cliff if he found out you were dating her," he swore in between clenched teeth.
"I am not here because of her father. I am her because of her. And she was no bitch. She was Kim and she was my first love."

He bit his lips and squeezed the trigger, emptying his leads on him as he shook from impact with the bullet, shattered by it. He pulled the trigger once more and the clip clicked empty. He sniffed and turned to Stanley on the floor, nursing his pain with groans.

"The things we do for love bro. My love for her and your love for money," he said to a terrified Stanley. He replaced the empty clip and pointed it at him.
"Difference is, I would burn any amount it took to have her back, in my arms. Heck, I killed my folks and sold out my family too, that's what she meant to me. But you, you will kill anybody just for money, Maria too, you just gave her up after all those loves you professed to her. She was sweet and she was my sister and she was no bitch," he said. He waited for no protest. He shot him three times on the chest and watched him sprawl out on the floor, in his own pool of blood.


"Do you think he missed on purpose?" Oscar asked as he drove through the empty streets with Jaycee and August.
"Nobody misses like that, he could have taken us out if he wanted to.
"Maybe he is sorry for the things he actually put you guys through, maybe you could start a family, the three of you, what do you say?"
"I say I'd rather jump off a bridge than spend another 10 seconds with the fool without putting a bullet in between his teeth," August said. Jaycee shot him a glance at the back of the car and smiled.
"I could lend you my gun for that purpose," he said and sat back on his chair.
"What is this world coming to? Brothers shooting up brothers and stuffs," Oscar muttered floored the gas.

Sorry for the delay folks, have been busy at everything and Chinaza called me that she was already on labor and felt like the baby would drop on the floor any moment soon. Well, I got to her lodge and she told me she was only joking, she wanted to know how much I cared and also needed me to buy banana for her at the junction that led into her lodge. The pregnancy was only 6 months gone. I don't blame her, the fault was mine for not counting.

Well, all was not lost at that wedding shaa. Willie drove them home but not after I had secretly gotten that perfect kiss from Chinecherem. The rest of the evening was spent brushing my skin against Chinemelum, telling each other the tales of our lives and the icing on the cake was that James was around, teasing us. Well it was all convenient because he had landed himself a heavy girl earlier at the wedding. She was one of his sister's ashebi girls and she was beautiful but not my kind of beautiful. So he was happy and had forgotten totally about the poison thing.

Chinemelum drank a glass of the gold slug and got tipsy. She made me teach her how to kiss and she was a slow learner but she did learn and I was glad to teach her. A bit of fingering happened in our room, while James was away. She was wet all over. I couldn't bring myself to shag her. I thought she was too beautiful to be used by someone like me. Neither of us slept. We spent the rest of the night talking nonsense. Two drunk lovers, sitting under a canopy, hidden in the darkness and sharing one mug of palm wine. If I ended up finding nothing of interest in that town, Chinemelum made up for all of them. I had hopes. She wrote jamb and unlike my baby bear, she passed well and was hopeful. She wanted to join her brother in Unizik and when I told her I was schooling there too, she then made it two reasons she must be in unizik. I was like Chinaza prepare o, you are about to have a rival.

Straight to the gossip of the day. Eva was getting married. Please check the calendar. It's not April 1. Evangeline is fucking getting married. I don't think she was trying to get back at me or whatever. She had shown me the guy and he was cute. He had cash and I was looking forward to my bang mates wedding. She didn't invite me though. She told me but she wasn't going to invite me.

"So now that you are gone from me, who will do me the way you use to do me?" I asked her the day we were smooching in my room. Shape wasn't around to interrupt.
"I don't know but shebi you know I won't cheat on him. He is so cute and a darling," she said to me and pecked me out of excitement. She was deliberately avoiding my lips. She was getting married and so was trying to put a stop to our adventure. I couldn't wait for Chinaza to deliver, with Chinecherem gone and Eva getting married, there was no one else to fuck. I needed a new girl and I set out in search for one.

It wasn't like I was going around the whole place with a placard on my chest advertising for a girlfriend vacancy. I just kept my eyes open. Exams were fast approaching and I found myself reading in bits from time to time. On a given day, I was deceiving myself in the library, flipping through my Facebook and my handouts as well. Then along came Cynthia, looking wonderful, I noticed that Cynthia was like the devil, you could only resist her in prayers but not in real life. I invited her to sit with me. She was shinning in her natural states. She came to read as well so we read each other.

"Where have you been?" I asked and she smiled.
"Have you been looking for me?" she asked and I nodded. She smiled again.
"But you don't like inviting me to your lodge."
"Well, my girl is unpredictable, she can even walk in here now," I said.
"Well, you should come to my lodge."
I thought about it, it seemed nice but I was comfortable in home matches where the pitch is mine and I was conversant with the terrain. Cynthia was a play girl no doubt and her body count might even make mine weep and I didn't need a repeat of that night at that muscled guy's house where I preached my konji away.
I decided I may like that shag her for a night but I shouldn't keep her as a regular girl. And that was what I did.

She made me a nice indomie and added Amstel Malt to it and made me cum it all out almost immediately. And then I continued my search.
As an Estate Manager, I was learning to have eyes on properties with very good potentials and this discipline I spread out to other endeavors of my life, like girls with potentials of being very beautiful with the right touch. I found one around my faculty. I loved her instantly and her figure was the numero 8. She wore some casual type of dresses that hid her assets but a nigga like me knew she had them and I went for her. She was dark tho but I didn't mind. Chinaza won't deliver anytime soon and Eva was getting married.

I walked up to her one day. She seemed quiet and the type you could easily force a smile out of.
"Cynthia?" I called her and she looked at me with a frown.
"Sorry, shey your name is Cynthia?" I asked. I didn't even know her name but that was better than walking up to a girl and asking for her name straight up.
She shook her head and continued giving me the "Do-I-Know-You" look.
"Sorry, I thought it was your name," I said and sat beside her.
"What is that your name again?" I asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I thought I knew you from somewhere but maybe I am wrong but if I knew your name then I won't call you something else. Or should I give you a name?" I asked. She nodded with a smile.
"Beauty," I said and she laughed.
"See, you are blushing already," I said. More laughter from her. Nice, we were blending in.
"What is your own name?" she asked after she had stopped laughing.
"Beast. Call me beast like beauty and the beast."
She started again, Jeez, I didn't even know I was that funny. Few minutes after, I was abandoning my lecture and following her to hers. Nobody was surprised, everyone knew I had that player factor in me. Eva was inviting me over with her eyes but I was a bachelor. I have no business with married women.
So inside that lecture hall, I was the odd one out. Everyone seemed to be understanding except me. Well I kept myself busy with Beauty's fingers. She let me have them and I loved holding onto it. She knew how to smile and I loved girls like that and by the time the class ended, we were two meters away from being couples. Yes, I had that Charisma.

"So will you be coming to school tomorrow?" I asked and she shook her head. I myself had classes the next day but I was willing to sacrifice it all for her.
"Maybe you should come around to my place, see how I live?"
"I don't know if I will have the chance," she replied.
"Don't worry, you will. Can I have your number?" I asked and popped out my Nokia torch. It rang almost immediately and Queen was written on the caller interface. I hid it away from her and busied the call. Chinaza had this attitude of showing up when she was not needed. I had barely opened up my dialer when her call came in again, haa, Chinaza! I busied it again and took Beauty's numbers before Naza will come and call again.

"My name is Chidimma," she said and I stored the number with Mma, an equivalent of Beauty in Igbo. I am always right. I forced a hug out of her and we embraced deeply. I watched her go, swaying her fine hips out of my very face. I shook my head and turned to go. Another call from my queen came in. I picked.

"Baby yo, how are you doing?" I yelled into the speaker, garnering some attention from around.
"I am not doing anything, why have you been cutting my calls?"
"I was in the class sweetheart, sorry."
"Sorry nke gi, come and open the door for me abeg."
"Naza are you in my lodge?" I asked.
"No I am in your house," she replied and cut the call. Did I mention that Naza had the attitude of showing up when she was not needed?

"So Emelum meet my people,"  I muttered, ushering her into the room. There was nothing else I could do. Chinecherem just attached herself to my arms while I introduced her.
"Meet Willie, he is my elder brother," I said and Willie passed her a drunk smile.
"This one is shape sorry, Chinaza. Our very good friend." shape said hello and waved. Chinemelum smiled back.
"And this one is James, my friend. I think he is your brother." Everyone laughed. "And this one here is my kid sister, Chinecherem."
Everyone threw me that shocked look. Willie just smiled. He prolly knew that a niggar will say anything to keep his game tight.
"Keep quiet,"  I hushed Chinecherem as she tried to protest. I wasn't going to mess up what I was building with Chinemelum over some quickie I had with her back at school.
"And guys, this is Chinemelum, James last born," I capped the introduction."
"As in, James born am and she is his last child?" Willie asked, dropping the bottle of beer on the floor.
"No, her mother's last born," I explained.
"Wooo, James your sister is so cute," Shape exclaimed and she blushed. Chinecherem left me and went back to her seat beside James. She held onto him and threw her face out of my eyes. I understood she was trying to maybe get me jealous but I had never been happier.
"I hope you have not been talking to him," Shape asked Chinemelum pointing at me.
"What for?" I asked in protest.
"Well, he is sort of everything that your brother is," she said and those who understood her meaning laughed.
I wouldn't let shape finish what Chinecherem started so I dragged Chinemelum out of the room before she rubbishes whatever goodwill I had left.

"Did I mention that Chinecherem is my junior sister?"  I asked her as we made our way out of the streams of human beings to a secluded spot. A spot close to where I had vomited last night.
"Yes you did, are you twins?" she asked.
"No, why do you ask?"
"You both bear the same name."
"What? We do?" I asked, frisking my memory for a lie. She nodded.
"Well, I always give people I care about my name as a pet name," I lied. A terrible lie but she didn't complain.
"So what is her own name?" she asked as I squeezed her fingers.
"You can call her Chinecherem Junior for now."
She nodded and I smiled. Straight to why I called her out. I was looking for the words to describe what I wanted to say, I found none. Something inside me was telling me to hold it on until I have had something to drink, maybe a boost of my morale would help but then, I wanted to seize that opportunity. Her little pink lips was giving me a technical knockout and so I much wanted to attach my lips to thems.

"You owe me a kiss right?" I asked all of a sudden. She smiled and nodded.
"You have nice lips and you are beautiful too," I stated and brought up her face to my eye level. The white of her eyes were bright like the clouds.
"The first time I saw you, I liked everything about you and I fell in love with you and I was hoping you will like me too."
I didn't wait for her to tell me if she did or not. I brought her closer and our lips clicked. Her lips did taste like strawberry but I have to confess that she was quite inexperienced at that art of kissing. She let her teeth get in the way and my tongue usually met a dead end with the teeth. I wished I could teach her how to do it properly but time happened to be a luxury we couldn't afford.
I upped the romance and pinned her against me. Both our eyes shut, we put in our everything into that kiss, my hands frisking her lower part of the body while she just stood like a tree. I have never been so frustrated kissing a girl but I let it slide, her beauty was enough to compensate me. I only left it at kissing.

I walked back into the room and she walked back to her plates. I was guessing we were both happy but I wasn't much satisfied. She had awakened that urge in me and I needed to quench it. I prayed Chinecherem would even look my way. I was only going to beg for an experienced kiss.

Our room was empty when I got back in and it wasn't so hard to guess where they had all gone. An oriental music was blasting away out the front of the house. I walked out there and met them killing it on the dance floor. A drunk Willie taking the lead while the bride groom dabbed after him. The bride was at the corner laughing her day away. I fell into rhythm and found myself behind shape. It was a free for all dance and we enjoyed it like you would enjoy an awoof. The dance floor was lit and money flew at us like hailstorm. Shape didn't conceal her backside from me as she let me have it all. She rocked me out of space and nearly opened my tap of jizz but I wasn't a one minute man, thanks to that. Then, along came Chinecherem with her perfect ass, she still nursed her grudge but she couldn't resist the guy in me, the one that was driving her crazy. She came at me with full force and I let her in. She stooped with her backside on my crotch and I stooped after her. She made a 360° whine and I followed suit, then we did a repeat and another repeat followed by more repetitions. She then turned to face me and was coming for a kiss when the music ended. I stopped her and we all fell out of the dance floor back into our rooms. Drinks came out and we went down on them.

Somehow, someway, a bottle of life managed to find it's way into Chinecherem's hand. She had drained half of the bottle before we ever took notice. Shape was going to hammer her but Willie stepped in for her, he said after all, it was for the last time. So we let her finish the one bottle she had opened, which wasn't easy as Willie had downed three bottles while she was still battling with one. Me, I was only busy trying to figure out what I was going to do with Chinemelum.

She crawled to where I was and sat beside me, her hands on my lap. I'v always known how dangerous a drunk girl can be but I too was drunk and had forgotten about that.
"Do you want more?" I asked and being as tipsy as she was, she took the drink from my hand and gulped it, choked on it and threw up half of it across the room.
"Chinecherem!" shape yelled. I was confused on which Chinecherem she was actually yelling. She rushed at us and snatched the bottle from her hand. I don't know, maybe I was expecting her to smash the bottle on the floor, well, she gulped the rest of it's content. I was midway into laughing at her when Chinecherem shut me up with a kiss. In the full glare of everyone. Worst still, Chinemelum was standing at the door, our foods in a tray she was carrying. I can't say that I hated the kiss but it came at a wrong time.

Eating replaced the tongue lashing that would have followed but not without Shape stuffing Chinecherem in between her and Willie, she was trying to secure her from me. If only she knew that Willie was more threat than I was. Well shaa, what is my own in it. Chinemelum was a bad kisser but I still liked her like that. She was too beautiful to be faulted and James was eyeing me with threats of poison if I ever followed her out again. I think he was glad that Chinemelum caught Chinecherem kissing me. Well, if I had a sister like her, I don't think I would threaten James with poison over her, I would just poison him without warning.

Clara tapped on the play button in her IPhone 6 music interface and the soft melodious mambo came on, filling the entire air with Romance. She tried to stand on her toe with her left leg and kick the right leg to the back, intending to spread her hands afterwards like a ballet would often do but then, she wasn't a ballet and she couldn't possibly stand on her toes. She had been at it for 2 days now but to her, it felt like ages.
She knew how to dance and rock her body whichever way she wanted to but she also wanted to learn a new way to dance. It meant nothing to her but she thought it meant a lot to Jason. Her newly found prince charming. Two days of breaking her toe nail and nearly cracking her leg bones in an effort to learn a new way to please him.

She hadn't been long in her new neighborhood when she met him. She had accompanied her elder brother to buy bread for breakfast at a nearby store. It was quite easy. Go to the store, make your order over the counter, grab your loaf of bread, pay and go home. It was going to be just like that if Patrick hadn't seen a pretty girl he fell in love with at first sight, like he always did each time he saw a pretty girl and it was all the time. Her company was to make him bring the bread home quicker but it hardly helped.

He had left her standing there and walked over to the girl. Things moved so fast, he told her he was going to walk just a few distance with the new girl and come back for her. He didn't keep the promise and she had to go looking for him. She was new to the neighborhood and everything was new to her, she didn't have a difficult time getting lost. She just did it before it even occurred to her that she might get lost. She had no phone on her and communication wasn't anyway near. She did a bit of roaming and when she got tired, she stood at a point and had gasped out a 'damn you Patrick'. She had gotten a reply almost immediately. Only that the voice wasn't that of her 20 year old brother. It sounded younger and she had thought it was better. She had turned to the voice and she couldn't quite forget the tingle that ran down her spine the moment her face accosted that of Jason Okafor. Jason too never really forgot the way his heart had trippled its beat the moment he set eyes on her. The shock expression on her beautiful innocent face, the way her eyes blinked rapidly and how her lashes flapped like the wings of a beautiful bird. Her breast standing firm and shooting their tops out of the neck of her pink blouse. Her rich black low cut hair and her light skin all got to him in a way he could never explain. Her pink little mouth struck him sick with wanting to kiss her right there. He had to shake himself out of his day dream and repeat his question..

"I asked if you were lost," he had repeated, snapping her out of her awestruck moment. She took in his shinning chocolate complexion, his bushy eyebrows and smiling eyes with one look and fell in love with them. She heard the question but had never believed how difficult it could be to give out a simple answer.
"No, I mean yes I am lost," she had stammered difficultly and he iced her nervousness with a smile that froze her pounding heart.
"Its okay, what's your number?" he had asked and she had hushed herself from spilling out her mobile number to him. She had to be sure he was asking for it, she had fallen helplessly but nevertheless, she wouldn't want to appear so.
"What?" she had asked and he threw her a new style of smile that was even more effective than the first.
"I meant, what's your house number?"
"Oh, 39," she replied with a blush.

He had walked her to their new house that day. He left her at their gate, taking with him, her name and mobile number, her heart too and leaving her with his name and a promise to come and pick her in the evening, to show her the rest of the neighborhood.

She had ran into the house, her heart leaping to the promise of what might be her first love story. She only remembered she was out with Patrick when he met him in their sitting room, smiling mischievously at her while her parents eyed her with anger in their various eyes. She was roasted for being the bad one and Patrick the dutiful one. She didn't complain or try to. She was just to excited to do that. She was 18 and felt something heavy and interesting was coming her way.

The evening of that eventful day was the next big thing in her life after her secondary school graduation party. He had held her hand and walked her all through the neighborhood and showed her the places she should know ordinarily. And when he introduced her to his friends as his love at first sight without her permission, she was way over herself with excitement which she tried so hard to conceal but her pretty eyes had to just show it.
None of them tried to deny that she was beautiful. She looked like a Sunday creation and it was very easy to fall for her. All she had to was blink twice and you are on your knees, begging for mercy. A smile from her would freeze any heart.
They had asked if she could dance and Jason shook his head. Saying they hadn't tried. The rest of the evening was the best of all the evenings in her life and when he had kissed her on the lips for a goodnight, her whole body woke with a kind of desire she had never felt before.

Now, she would have to learn every single dance step the world had ever known and she would unleash them on him. She stood before her mirror, twerking to the next hip hop song that had come up on her phone. Her figure was sexy and it wasn't so hard to make a dance out of it or to make her curved out backside shake. Her waist was elastic in a sort and moving it wasn't so hard for her. She could dance and she was going to show it to Jason.

"Oh my, you are so beautiful," He murmured as she let him hug her. She knew from the way she had admired herself in her mirror and the sleek pink gown that hugged her body, she just knew that she was beautiful in it but she was worried she wouldn't be beautiful enough for him and when he made that comment, she was thrilled. She buried herself deep into his arms and closed her eyes. Her body spelt the word 'PEACE' out and she was in love. He led her through the richly furnished sitting room to the stairs. He laid back on the handrails and brought her closer, sealing her trembling mouth shut with his lips. She wound her arms round his neck and he slid his down to her well defined hips and they kissed like they just discovered it, both their eyes shut and struggling for each other's lips. When they ran out of breath, he lifted her off the ground and took her upstairs to his room. He gently laid her on the cosy mattress and ran to his fridge.

"I don't want anything, just come here," she ordered. He obeyed and shut the fridge. He fell into her waiting arms and they smooched on the soft mattress, the air filled with sweet flavors from the air refresher he had just bought added a spice to their Romance. She would forever reminisce of that moment every time she heard that scent.
"Let's dance," she had asked him amidst the kisses and he stopped. He looked her in the eyes with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Really, you want to dance?" he asked and she nodded. She didn't wait for him to speak again, she stood from the bed, feverish with excitement and ran to the sound system in the room. She flicked it on and the room was drowned in sweet melodies, one that got to her brain. She pulled him from the bed and fell into his arms. The held each other and swayed slowly to the rhythm of the song. For the over three minutes the song played, they both shut their eyes and danced slowly to it, loving every drop of it. And then the track ended and she stopped.

"Is that all?" he asked and she shook her head. She was going to show him more. She changed the song to a loud hip hop and backed him. She rubbed her backside against his crotch and made it jiggle independently without even making much movement. His body tensed and he felt the sensation envelope him, he closed his eyes and bit his lips lightly. The bass speakers throbbed and her buttocks flowed to its rhythm, hitting him hard in the crotch and raising more sensations. She turned to face him and dropped her hand on his shoulder, pulling him closer to her. They stood chest to chest as he felt her firm nipples burning against his chest. She danced to a stoop and stood with equal agility, brushing him hard with her rock hard breasts. He grabbed her by the bum and caught her lips with his. He kissed her out of breath and took her to bed, she let him.
"I am a virgin," she declared amidst the excitement and saw the fire in his eyes die slowly. He stopped his advances and knelt on the bed, staring down at her. He never thought of it, she had rocked him so perfectly well, something that not all virgins could do.
"Really?" he had managed to ask. She nodded slightly and held his hand.
"Not that I don't want you to do it, I'm just scared of the pain," she confessed with an innocent look he had never seen before. It made him weak and his desire for her only peaked. He collapsed beside her and together they stared up at the ceiling, following the rotation of the ceiling fan with their eyes.
"I love you," she murmured and snuggled closer to him. He held her and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too," he whispered into her ear. She grabbed him with excitement and kissed him deeply.

"Let's do it," she said, locking his eyes with hers. He bit his lips and pulled her down to his chest.
"Are you sure?" he had asked and she nodded. He had helped her undress, running his fingers through her smooth skin, etching into her body, a tingling sensation that made her close her eyes. He stripped down to his inner wear and lay on her naked body, kissing her lips and rubbing his skin against hers. He went into her slowly while she savored the pain and the pleasure. She tried to shut out the pain but it seemed impossible as the pain grew for every inch deep he went in.
"Wait," she moaned and opened her eyes. He stopped and propped himself up with his elbow.
"Let me climb you, that way I can move at my own pace and it will help me control the pain."
He obliged her and they switched position. She mounted him and moved slowly but steady. They both shut their eyes as she damned the pain and rode him faster, oblivious of the blood that tickled out of her wet vulva.

He kissed her over and over again as she shyed away from his passionate gazes.
"Do you hate me?" he had asked and she shot her beautiful eyes at him.
"Why would I hate you?"
"Because of this," he said, referring to their act of intimacy.
"I love you more now," she whispered and got showered with bouts of kisses from him.

He walked her home, his hand gripping hers as they strolled. The sun was running down west at 5:30 pm. He would rub her hand gently each time and she would let out a soft laughter. She was in love and fulfilled.
They met his friends where they always meet. They had watched them approaching, hand in hand and in love. Her face was bright like the mid morning sun and they had all liked the way she looked.

"Hello guys," he had greeted and shook their hands one after the other. They each threw her a hello and a flirty look. She blushed and grabbed his hand more.
"Did you guys dance?" one of his friends asked and he nodded. She smiled shyly.
"Was she good?"
"She was brilliant and sweet and she was the best too," he announced and everyone threw her a look. They had each wanted her.
They left them and walked on to her house. They stood some meters away from the entrance and faced each other.
"I love you a million folds," he confessed and she giggled. He saw the innocence in her eyes and loved her more. She was a sweet beautiful girl. He completed the confession with a kiss which was interrupted by Patrick.
"You two have tried, you can now go home while I escort her inside," he said and grabbed her hand. He bade her goodnight and flew her a kiss, one that she returned with her lips and her eyes. Away from the prying eyes of her elder brother.

She woke very late the next day all excited with the thrill of a new love, one totally different from the ones she had been involved in during her secondary school days. She went through her phone and found his message waiting unread.

"Good morning beautiful, how was your night? I miss you here already."
She smiled and texted him back.
"My night was warm with the thought of you. I miss you more."

She dragged herself up from the bed and into her bathroom, cleaned up and came out. She had just changed to her blue gown when her brother badged into her room without a knock.
"Dad wants to see you right now," he announced in a way that made her blood rush. She assumed she was in trouble and paused on reprimanding Patrick for walking into her room like that.
"Do you know why?" she asked with her heart in her mouth.
"Not really but I think he saw you with your pretty boy yesterday."
He saw the fear hover over her pretty face and shook his head.
"You had better hurry up and see him, I don't understand his mood this morning."

She said a little prayer in her mind and walked down the stairs to the parlor where her father stood, obviously waiting for her.
"Dad?" she called slowly, he turned to her with a little frown on his face.
"Good morning sir," she greeted and he nodded.
"How are you dear?"
"I am fine sir," she replied and relaxed. She was glad he added a dear to that.
"Where is Patrick? Thought I told him to come and get me something?" he asked, looking up the stairs. It then dawned on her that she had fallen to another of her brother's many tricks. She moved back and made to run up the stairs.
"I will call him," she said.
"Don't worry, maybe you can even do it better than him," he called her back and she stopped, a trifle disappointed.
"It's just some drugs, I think I saw a chemist shop down the road yesterday. It's not that far."

She ran up the stair with the money for the drugs and ran into her brother's room. She met him brushing his Jean trouser.
"For your mind you are smart abi?" she asked and he grinned in reply.
"I don't have the time to be looking for any chemist shop. I'v got a date."
"With who? That girl?" she asked.
"Which girl?" he asked with a frown.
"How many girls do the two of us know here? The one you left me for the other day. The cute girl one."
"Oh, not her. This new girl, she's cuter than that one and she's invited me for a dance," he said with a wide grin.
"It's like all they do here is dance," she murmured.
"Have you danced with your pretty boy?" he asked and pulled his black body hug polo from the wardrobe.
"Yea, yesterday. I wonder what's so special about it," she murmured. Patrick let out a scoff.
"Did he dance good?" he asked.
"Maybe but I rocked him hard. You should have seen me," she said excitedly. Patrick sat on the bed and broke into a laugh.
"What's funny?" she asked.
"Nothing really, I thought you were a virgin?"
"What has that got to do with dancing?" she asked, looking at his naughty brother. He stood up from the bed and pulled his bedside drawer.
"You are too naive for my liking," he said and picked a condom from the drawer. "You shouldn't be like that when you have someone like me around. You are very beautiful and shouldn't let this guys play with you."
"Patrick what type of dance do you do with a condom?" she asked, staring at the shinning sachet in his hands and not wanting to discuss her affairs with her randy brother.

"See why I said you were naive. A dance in this neighborhood is not the regular dance you know in our former neighborhood," he explained. It was then that she understood the whole dance thing. She then understood why he had asked her that question, "Really, you want to dance." she came to understand why he was more in a hurry to get her to bed than he was to switch on the stereo.

She ran out of the room and into the street, blind with rage. She had been played, that was how she saw it all. Her flip-flops clapped on the asphalt as she made her way over to his house. She was mad as it was.

She met him halfway to their house. He was with two of his friends. Maybe he was telling them about the dance, she thought. Just maybe.
"Sweetheart," he called on seeing her. She ignored him and gave him a light shove on the chest, ignoring those around him.

"What was that dance you and your silly friends were always blabbing about, huh?" she yelled and he thought she looked even more appealing as she was angry.
"Baby, what are you talking about?" he asked, confused and shocked with the way she had pushed him.
"Do not baby me you slimy bastard. So that was the dance and it was all you had cared about right?" she asked, getting madder by the second.
"Sweetheart, if only you could calm down and make me understand," he pleaded, trying to hold her hands. She slipped them away and landed him a slap on the cheek. He flinched and the boys around bit their lips.
"I don't want to ever see you again!" she yelled and walked out on him while he watched helplessly.

"She slapped you and you let her go like that?" one of the guys said.
"Shut up," he blasted him and walked out on them.

He spent the rest of the day blowing up her phone and having her cut it each time. She spent her own rest of the day, crying and getting angry at everything, her own naivety inclusive. She was mad at the way she had smiled when he praised her in front of his friends for being a good dancer. If only she had known what they meant by dancing. Most of all, she was sad that she was going to let him go. She loved him despite what he had done.

Patrick barged into her room like he always did, without knocking. She hid her face from him. She didn't want him to know that she had been crying.
"Your pretty boy is asking for you downstairs," he announced and turned to leave.
"I don't want to see him," she muttered and sniffed. He observed the tear in her voice and turned to her.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing, tell him to go, I don't want to see him."
He crept into her bed and pulled her to himself against her protests.
"Did he do something to upset you?" he asked. She shook her head and her anger transfered to him. How could he not have noticed her countenance when he started the dance thing in the morning?
"Was it that dance?" he asked all of a sudden and she kept mute, burying her head in his chest.

"Oh, poor you, you thought the dance was just dance? And now you think he used you?" he asked and she found herself nodding against her will. Patrick was her only brother and her only confidant too.
"I think he loves you, everybody loves you and I doubt if he would have wanted to use you against your wish," he said and it made her feel better to assume that he actually loved her and not the dance. Then Patrick capped it with his usual jerky trait.

"Go and meet him there. Dad will soon be back and meet him there. Then you will cry the real cry."
He pulled her up and wiped her face. He let her walk out to him alone. Since she was already dancing, then she is old enough to handle her own problems, he thought.

She met him outside their gate. She felt an urge to run into his arms and stay there for the rest of the evening.
"Just go, leave me alone," she found herself saying.
"I am sorry Clara. I care about you and not that stupid dance of a thing," he confessed.
"Stop calling it a dance because it's not. You deceived me and bragged to your friends about it. I hate you so much."
He stared at her lacking the words to express himself. He loved her and wouldn't have slept with her if she hadn't wanted it but he was ready to take the blames.

"Just go and don't come looking for me again," she said with a tone of finality and walked into the house ignoring his calls.

The next fears days were spent by them trying to heal their hearts. She wanted to get back at him someway, to make him feel the hurt she felt. They never got to see each other again for a while until she had walked out one afternoon to get tomatoes for her mother. He was with his friend and one other girl. The girl was with his friend obviously. Her heart missed a beat when he saw his handsome face approaching from the other end. Jason's heart had skipped also when he saw her. She looked more beautiful than ever. He was going to smile at her if they got closer but she had deliberately avoided his eyes and locked it on his friend.

"Clara," Evans called her and she smiled at him. With the corner of her eyes, she watched the shadow pass over Jason's eyes. It thrilled her a bit.
"How are you Evans? Are you going to dance?" she had asked, shocking Jason and bringing up an uneasy smile from Evans. She only smiled back and trotted away.

She got a call from Jason an hour later. He begged over and over again. She was so beautiful that he didn't want to let go. She dropped the call on him, a thing that killed him. He lay on his bed mourning his loss and being angry at her for being so mean. He heard a knock on his door and barked a come in. The door opened slowly and he watched her come in, thrilled and his heart hammering at the same time. He jumped from his bed and sat up.

"Clara?" he called. She walked up to him on the bed and sat beside him.
"I am really sorry for everything," he started and she hushed him.
"Can we dance again?" she asked.
"Yes, I have a new music in my phone and I know a dance," he said excitedly.
"Shut up, I was talking about the other dance. I want it," she said and kissed him. He felt feverish with passion and held onto her.
"I love you so much," he muttered.
"I love you too."
He pulled off his top and held her. She stopped him.
"But on one condition," she said.
"What condition?"
"It will be the last one."
He nodded with a cute smile that made her heart throb.
"Let's have our last dance, one that will keep us together forever."

"I killed them all," he said to Oscar and he nodded.
"Everyone?"
He shook his head and murmured, "Something like that."
"August, what do you mean something like that? You killed that policeman right?"
"Yea, He was first."
"So I assume it was the girl you left, right?"
He nodded and let out a breath. Oscar searched him with his eyes.
"You love her?" he asked and he nodded.
"Loved her, not anymore," he replied and it was a cold reply.
"Why?" he pressed further.
"Love is dead for me. Died with Mary. I love nothing anymore."
Oscar watched him and the distance stare in his eyes. He thought the boy was far gone. He understood perfectly well. He was handling guns and shooting them at an age he was supposed to be cuddling to his mother.
August shot him a stare.
"Killing all these people, is that what's going to make me a man? Is that how Joseph became a man?" he asked. Oscar nodded.
"Then I don't want to be a man," he murmured. Oscar stared at him and smiled. He put his arm across and dropped it on his shoulder.

"August, I don't know how they do it out there or anywhere else but here in Mathews, that's how it goes down, it's either you or them and if you die at a young age, you won't grow to be a man. If you can't protect the people you love, boy, you ain't no man and that's what made Joe a man, he protected you all the much he could."
August watched him and felt his icey heart melt. His eyes moistened and he felt a tear drop.
"Before I left, I sat with Janet and I told her I loved her. I meant it then. Today, I stood over her and nearly pulled the trigger," he stopped, sniffed and continued. "Oscar, I don't want to be that kind of man. I want to protect the people I love. I watched them all die and nearly killed one myself. Janet thought I was a demon and I think she thought right."
"Boy, there are things life throw at you sometimes and you are left with no choice. You had a duty to your loved ones that were murdered and that's what you carried out, don't be a sissy now," he said and August stood up. He walked round the worn out cross on a grave, his back against Oscar.

"I had a choice when I held that gun against Janet and I chose not to shoot and I didn't. Do you think Jamie had that chance? Jaycee had a gun and it was either Jamie or him," he turned and stared at him.

"August, he killed Joseph and you killed him. Joseph was only keeping you all safe. You, Jaycee and Maria and Jamie killed him. You killed Jamie for that and that's the end of it. Fucking let it go. You had a duty and you carried it out. Here in St Mathews, your home, it's blood first and if someone fucked with your blood, you fuck him to hell and that's it, you heard me? That's it!" he scolded. August wiped his eyes and nodded. He heard all he needed. Jaime killed his brother and he killed him for it. That was all that mattered. Janet had nothing in it and he was glad he changed his mind about shooting her.

"You said someone wanted to see me?" he asked and Oscar smiled.
"Yes, you will smile again soon."
August scoffed. "Who might that be? My mother or Maria or Mary?"
Oscar shook his head with the smile still on his face.
"Jaycee," he replied like it was a magical name. August stopped and stared at him, his eyes blazing red.
"Don't fuck with me," he said and Oscar shook his head.
"I am not fucking with you bro. Jaycee will be here soon."
He walked the room apprehensively and stood at a spot, sweating and shaking.
"Where the fuck is he now?" he asked.
"Said we should wait here, be patient bro."
August fixed his gaze on Oscar. He wasn't looking at him. He looked past him. His eye moistened and with tears and just when they were going to fall, a smile broke out of his face.

Williams looked round the classy suite located at the pent house of The Meridian Hotels. It was tasty and cozy but he could care less. His mind was beginning to grab a bit of peace as he was so close to perfecting his scheme. He poured one more glass of the tequila and took it to the bed. He sat on it and sipped from the glass. He heard the door open and someone walking towards him. He was too weary to look and rather took another sip from the glass.

"You sold us out for this?"
Jaycee was all grown but Williams could never forget the sound of his voice. He let out a smile and turned on the bed to face him.
"You look better without the beards bro," he said and widened the smile and then switched to that emotionless look they have always had a problem deciphering.
"Don't fuck with me man, you did all these to us, your family because of money?" he asked again, tightening his grip on the trigger as he shoved the gun in his direction. Williams shook his heard a trifle undaunted by the gun being pointed him.
"I don't care about money."
"Than what was it? Power? You hated us? What the fuck made you sell out your bloody family because I can't seem to understand it."
"I never hated you guys, I loved you all more than I can ever begin to explain now. All those years, I had my eyes on you, just trying to look out for you. I'm sorry Joseph and Maria had to die, pops and moms too but certain things takes place in our lives, things we cannot explain, things we have no control over and things you may not have seen yet. Like the force of love," he turned on the bed to face him squarely, Jaycee followed his movement with his gun. "Like Nancy for example, she lost her family for you, everyone she's ever loved and she's still stuck to you. Doesn't that beat you?" he asked.

"No, she only loyal to the ones she loves. Something you have no bloody clue of. While you are shooting up the family that loved you, she is there, protecting them and giving all she has for it."

"And why would she still hang around you when her folks were murdered in her very face because of you? Just why?" he asked and moved his eyes past him, laying it on the door as it creaked open. August walked in slowly followed by Oscar, each clutching to his own gun.

"Jaycee?" August called out slowly. He knew Williams, he could never forget his face and he also knew Jaycee with the hair on his head. Things he would never forget. Oscar let his gun go up and pointed it at Williams while Jaycee turned to behold his little brother once again. His emotions got to him and he let his gun drop to his side. He ran straight to August and scooped him into his arms, almost choking him.

"I thought you died bro. I swear I thought you died," August sobbed and fell back in his arms. He was only a few inches shorter than he was.
"I didn't die, I'm here now and we are going to make them all pay, starting with this sly bastard sitting here," he replied and they turned to face Williams again. He smiled up at August and thought it needless to say how glad he was on seeing him. Even though it would be true, he doubted if they will ever believe him.

"You are grown August, that's great," he said and the smile crept out of his face again.
"What did he have with it all?" August asked Jaycee, ignoring his comment.
"Everything I think. Teamed up with the people that kept coming after us until Joseph and Maria died."
"Then I will shoot him myself," August said and raised his gun. Williams shuddered from the look in his eyes, through them, he saw that he was going to shoot, brotherhood aside.

"Drop them," Stanley called from behind them, an assault rifle in his hand. They turned to him and he waved them a smile.
"A family reunion then but I'm sorry I have to cut you guys short."
"Well, we are here for both your heads," Jaycee said and bit his lower lip.
"Maybe some other time but not today bro. Drop the fucking guns."
Williams looked at him and smiled. "Is he around?" he asked and Stanley nodded.
"We will meet him tomorrow. We need to leave here now."
He stood from the bed and walked past the three boys, straight for the door.
"Some other time folks, and I'm glad to see you again August, really," Williams said and grabbed the door knob.
"And I'd be glad to see your brains on the floor soon," he replied. Williams smiled.

"I'm sorry bro but I hope you do realize I have to kill them," Stanley announced. Only Oscar flinched, the other two just burned with rage.
"I won't let you kill my brothers," Williams said and walked back towards them. Stanley frowned, he wasn't ready for that confrontation but he would kill them all if it ever came to that, Williams inclusive.
"I will do it myself," Williams completed with a smile. Stanley heaved a sigh.
"Then get it done, we need to move out," he said and walked out of the door. Williams pulled his gun from his waist and raised at Oscar first.

"I wish we had met again over a glass of beer as brothers," he smiled and fired six times, everywhere went silent after the sound of the gun, he watched them for a while and shook his head. He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"I have no one left now, better not let your boss fuck me up," he murmured to Stanley as they walked into the elevator.
"Don't worry, very soon, you will have the whole of St Mathews."

We danced and made merry all through the night. James's father let us have a crate of beer to ourselves and we drank it up like fishes. James had this mad home theater in his room and we banged it up with run town's mad over you track. The ladies around were either older than I was or not fine enough for my standard so I just mingled with my bottle of Heineken. I was at it and also shaking my head to the rhythm of music banging away when I felt a light touch on my arm. I turned and Chinemelum stood before me with a plate of steaming jollof rice in her hand. I took it from her and dropped it on the table with a thank you.

"Where are you going?" I asked as she turned to go. She pointed in the direction of the kitchen and I nodded.
"Will you come back?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"Well I want you to come back," I said, flashing her my Mr charming smile. She smiled back.
"I will try."

She left the room brushing James who was already on his way in. He came in and shot daggers at me with his eyes.
"Nothing naa, she only brought me food," I protested.
"Next time, tell me. I will even add more meat for you."

He dropped more chilled beer on the bed and we knocked ourselves out. Real out. Things moved so fast and I soon found myself at the far corner of the fence, in the darkness with Chinemelum. We weren't kissing or smooching as most of you would think. She held a bowl of water while I bent low, vomiting the destiny out of my life. I'v had too many to drink and the consequences hit me like a mark trailer. It was my second time of vomiting that evening and she was there through it all, heaping me with sorry.
I took the bowl from her and washed my face and then rinsed my mouth.
"Thank you," I murmured, staggering to stand erect. She smiled and her dimples showed.
"I would have kissed you but I am afraid I may vomit on you," I said and she smiled again.
"Don't worry, maybe tomorrow."

I assumed the answer was conjured up by the liquor in my blood and sent to my brain because if it wasn't so then it means she would actually allow me kiss her tomorrow. Jeez. Why do girls love me so, or is it because I love them?.
We walked into the house, leaning on each other. She left me at the door to James' room. I pecked her cheek and she smiled. She bade me Goodnight and left. I watched her go and realized How beautiful and innocent she looked. She was the type that I had always loved to kiss and hug but never fuck. She looked too innocent and beautiful to be messed up plus James would poison the next drink he would offer me.
I staggered into the room and James was already snoring his life away. I fell beside him and prayed I don't vomit on him.

I and James lay in the room wasted the next day, staring at the ceiling and trying to kill the headache with soft blues. We brushed around 9 am and fell back into the room. We had no business around, everything was already being taken care of.

"Your sister is fine," I whispered to James all of a sudden.
"I know, everybody knows, even she knows," he replied.
"Well, are you aware that my name and hers sound alike?" I asked.
"So?"
"And she is my exact spec, fair, beautiful and curvy," I said and he turned to look at me.
"So?"
"We could be in laws you know," I suggested.
"You are still drunk," he replied and I laughed.
"So James, you had a treasure like this at home and you didn't even tell me, eh Chibundu?"
He laughed at the way I called his native name.
"Now you know, wetin go come happen? Will you be coming here from Anambra just because of her?"
"No but you can invite her for small holiday at our lodge since you live alone."
"Why don't you invite Amara over then I will invite her."
"I will rather invite my mother than invite Amara," I said. Chinemelum walked in on us. I saw a different side of her beauty, one I couldn't find in her parents. She brought us breakfast on the bed. We were really kinging and the icing on the cake for me was having a queen like her serve me on my bed, James's bed actually.

The wedding mass was for 10 am. Everyone of note left before them, Chinemelum inclusive, to my utter dismay. The house turned up boring so we decided to go to church, if for nothing, at least for photoshoots. So with my red tux, it was a wedding mass so Romance was in the air, my skinny pencil and black Italian shoes toe match, James was on something similar too. It was our uniform sort of. We strolled off to church, it was a walkable distance. The time was 11:30 am when we got there. The priest was already on his way to concluding the entire affair. We both sat at the back of everyone. We had a vantage view of the church and the choir girls mostly.

"See that girl?" James whispered to me, pointing to the direction of the choir girls.
"That one with big boobs?" I asked.
"No, the one on skimpy skirt."
"Hian, all those choir girls are on skimpy skirts naa."
"No, that one with Chinaza's kind of laps."
"James abeg, don't start comparing my Naza with your village girls."
He Pointed the girls out to me and I checked her out. She was cute and dark and fresh like pumpkin.
"Ehe? What about her?"
"She go fit you," he told me.
"I know but I only do dark girls who are exceptional," I said.
"She is exceptional."
"How?"
"She will save you from me."
"Which kind saving?" I asked, switching stares between him and the girl.
"You need saving from me because I will poison you if you try any rubbish with Chinemelum. Just take that girl in her place," he said. He wasn't smiling but I can tell when James was joking. He was joking shaa. But then the girl looked cute though and from where she was sitting, I could tell she had that potential of being very curvy. I imagined myself hitting it off with the girl after the wedding mass and going home to a savory Chinemelum. I loved the idea and it was worth risking James's poison.

"Will you introduce me to her?" I asked.
"Sure, only if you promise not to look at Chinemelum twice again."
"I swear."
"Swear with your life," he said and I shot my eyes at him.
"Haba guy, easy naa, like say those other girls you dy tidy are not people's Junior sister."
"I know what I am doing. You that is always doing magic with girls, I don't want you to do magic with her."
"I cannot swear with my life abeg, what if we get drunk again and something happens? I can't swear abeg."
"Then I will poison you."

Fast forward to the wedding photoshoot. I was all over Chinemelum. Our hands on each other as the flashes came. We had a groupie, We had our personal, one which James was dictating to us where to hold each other. If he had his way, we would have been taking the pictures at a perfect 10m distance between us. And we had the one which James stood in between us. It was as fun as fun can get. Their entourage drove home while I walked with James, just as we had come. I made sure the girls around had enough reason to ogle at me and they did.

Into the house and the reception started. We ate and kept the drinks aside. We needed to be sober to be helpful. Things moved swiftly and a lot was cramped into the reception so it's details would be bulky, I am leaving them out. Our Job mostly was to help those intending to spray money on the dancing couple get change for that purpose. I and James. We made quite a sum of money from it. Don't ask me how, we weren't stealing them tho, but we did make money.

We were far gone into the whole thing when I remembered Chinemelum. I searched around for her but couldn't find her then I remembered the kitchen. I left James as he stood at a spot, looking for potential customers who would like to change their money. Into the kitchen I went and there was my fair lady, watching and rinsing ceramic plates. Her mom was around and I couldn't possibly drag her out of there myself.

I stood at a distance from them for what seemed like 72 hours, hoping and praying she would look my way, then she did and our eyes smiled at each other. I nodded and pointed back inside, she seemed to understand my sign language and smiled at me, this time around with her lips and those her dimples knocked me out. I stood imagining those lips on mine. I believed it would taste like strawberry.

I ran back inside, into our room to wait for her. I passed the door, threw the curtain open and walked inside to meet our whole lodge there. Well it was just Shape, Willie and Chinecherem, James too. Willie was already on one bottle of Heineken and was grinning ear to ear at me. Shape was clutching his hand and smiling at me. The  the gate crasher, the party spoiler, Chinecherem. She ran straight at me with her open hands and landed straight on me.
"Baby!" she yelled as she hugged me deeply, destroying my cheeks with pecks. Just then, Chinemelum walked in, wiping her wet hands against her blouse.